THE USAGE OF LITERARY CONFLICTS IN THESAURUS DICTIONARIES

Аннотация

This article examines the representation and classification of literary conflicts within thesaurus dictionaries, with a particular focus on their semantic structure, conceptual categorization, and practical application in literary studies. The research explores how different types of conflict—internal, external, social, and philosophical—are defined, interconnected, and contextualized in modern lexicographic sources, especially in thesauri designed for literary analysis. Keywords: literary conflict, thesaurus dictionary, lexicography, narrative structure, internal conflict, external conflict, literary analysis 1. Introduction Literary conflict is one of the essential components of narrative structure, forming the basis of plot development and character dynamics. In literary theory, conflict is generally divided into internal (man vs. self) and external (man vs. man, society, nature, fate, or technology). While its theoretical and practical importance is well studied in literature and stylistics, the presence and organization of conflict- related terms in lexicographic resources—particularly in thesaurus dictionaries— have received limited academic attention.1 This study aims to analyze the usage and representation of literary conflicts in thesaurus dictionaries. The focus is on identifying how various conflict types are 1 Gilman, E. W. (1990). Dictionaries as a source of usage controversy. Dictionaries: Journal of the Dictionary Society of North America, 12(1). Pp 75-84. Выпуск журнала №-27 Часть–1_Июнь –2025 271 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT categorized, whether they are interconnected with broader literary concepts, and how these entries can aid readers, students, and researchers in understanding literary works more deeply. 2. Methodology This research is qualitative and descriptive in nature. The analysis is based on a comparative review of several widely used thesaurus dictionaries, such as Roget's International Thesaurus, Collins English Thesaurus, and The Oxford Thesaurus of English. Entries related to “conflict” and its subcategories were extracted, categorized, and compared. Additionally, the study analyzed definitions, synonyms, cross-referenced terms, and hierarchical groupings to determine the conceptual structure surrounding literary conflict. Particular attention was given to semantic fields, related literary devices (e.g., irony, dilemma, tension), and thematic associations. 3. Results The analysis revealed several key patterns in the treatment of literary conflict in thesaurus dictionaries: Categorization by Type: Most thesauri group conflict terms under broader headings such as “struggle,” “opposition,” or “tension.” Subcategories like “internal conflict” and “external conflict” are sometimes indirectly referenced through terms like “dilemma,” “crisis,” or “antagonism.” Lexical Richness: A rich variety of synonyms and related expressions (e.g., confrontation, clash, battle, discord, dissonance) are used to describe conflict. However, their literary application is not always explicitly indicated. Cross-Referencing: Thesauri often include cross-references to other literary terms such as “character,” “plot,” “climax,” and “resolution,” implying an integrated semantic network.2 2 Petrović, S. (1969). The Dictionary of Literary Terms and the Concept of Literary Terminology. Umjetnost riječi, 259- 309. Выпуск журнала №-27 Часть–1_Июнь –2025 272 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT Absence of Narrative Context: Despite the presence of conflict-related terms, thesauri generally lack contextual examples from literary texts, making it difficult to grasp their narrative function without additional resources. The analysis of the Thesaurus Dictionary of Literary Terms reveals that various types of literary conflicts are distinctly represented in Uzbek literary terminology. The study categorized conflict-related entries into five major types: man vs. man, man vs. self, man vs. society, man vs. nature, and man vs. fate.3 Out of a total of 100 analyzed entries that were related to literary conflicts: Man vs. man was the most frequently referenced conflict type, appearing in 35% of the entries. Man vs. self accounted for 25%, highlighting internal struggles as a significant theme in Uzbek literature. Man vs. society made up 20% of the conflict-related terminology, reflecting the societal tension often portrayed in literary works. Man vs. nature was identified in 10% of the entries. Man vs. fate was the least represented, found in only 10% of the cases.4 This distribution shows that interpersonal and psychological conflicts are prioritized in the dictionary's content, aligning with the thematic preferences of Uzbek literary tradition. 4. Discussion The findings show that while thesaurus dictionaries include many conflict- related terms, their usage is often generalized and not tailored specifically for literary analysis. This suggests a gap between literary theory and lexicographic practice. The lack of narrat